§ 48. Mr. Blackburnasked the Prime Minister whether in view of the present delicate state of international affairs, he will instruct Ministers and senior public servants, whether in the Forces or not, to refrain from making public statements about international affairs except with the approval of himself or the Foreign Secretary.
§ The Prime MinisterThe principle of collective responsibility requires that any Minister making a public statement on matters outside his own departmental responsibilities shall consider whether the views which he proposes to express are in accord with Government policy and, if need be, put the matter beyond doubt by consultation with his colleagues. This applies to statements on foreign affairs as on other aspects of Government policy. Civil Servants and senior officers in the Forces in this country are not normally encouraged to make public statements on matters of policy.